"NOOOOO!" Shaw screamed as he watched the cave collapse in on itself, burying Erik and the red-skinned demon who had joined him at the last second… and the lamp along with them.

"NOOOOOO!"

…..

"You know, I expect you to join me for dinner when I command it!" King Kurt growled, as he stormed into his step-son's room, "If I have to start having people drag you down there, then I will!"

Charles merely glanced over at him, a dark look flashing across his eyes, before he shook his head. "Instead of focusing on me, you should possibly check in with your head advisor."

"… What do you mean?"

"He's making decisions about how criminals should be dealt with… how long before he starts making other decisions. Where the money goes, for example?"

Kurt's face darkened in fury as Charles fought to keep his face neutral.

Hit him where it hurts.

…..

"I... love your powers." Erik grunted, as he and Azazel lay on the stone, cold floor, "Do you think you have the energy to get us out of here?"

"We don't know how thick the stone wall is." Azazel pointed out, "We don't want to get trapped, nyet? Give me some time."

Erik tried not to groan, pushing himself to his feet and locking eyes with the man from before, who looked very annoyed with their whole trapped situation.

"I don't know how 'trapped man' got translated into 'genie in a lamp'" the man muttered, "But it's done nothing but cause problems."

"So, to sum up this situation, there's no lamp and we're temporarily trapped." Erik sighed, "Along with…." He gestured at the stranger.

"… Logan."

"Logan… who seems to be full of metal?"

Logan shrugged, "Long story."

"Right. We're Erik and Azazel." Erik sighed, "If we're going to be trapped here, we might as well be civil with each other."

If Logan was taken aback by the way Azazel looked, he didn't show it, blowing out a crowd of smoke.

"So, yer mutants, right?" Logan asked, "Teleportation and… metal manipulation?"

"I can generate and manipulate magnetic fields." Erik corrected, "Is the metal part of your mutation?"

"Nah." Logan unsheathed the claws, sheathing them again as Erik watched the flesh heal immediately, "Healing… makes illegal experimentation easier."

Erik felt sick at the words.

Mutant rights were non-existent.

Illegal experimentation wasn't as illegal as it was made out to be. So long as the subject didn't die, the perpetrators got off with a slap on the wrist.

"I think I can get us out now." Azazel carefully broke the awkward silence, "I should be able to manage all three of you, but we won't get far."

"Just out of here will be fine."

"Done." Azazel grabbed Erik and Logan's arms, ignoring the man's protests, before they were disappearing in a cloud of smoke.

BAMF

….

"I can't believe this!" The King ranted and raved, as Shaw knelt before him, "I am the KING! I decide who lives and who dies! NOT YOU!"

"I assure you Your Highness, it won't happen again."

"I had better not Shaw... you get one more chance to defy my rule like that. One more time and you'll find yourself on the wrong side of the firing squad!"

Shaw resisted the urge to smirk.

A firing squad against him?

Laughable.

As the King stormed out, Charles stepped out from the shadows, "I know you're very pleased with yourself." He stated, "But remember this... I am still the legal heir, the blood heir. When I am King, I will have the power to get rid of you."

Before Shaw could retort, the prince stormed away, missing how the advisor's face darkened and he cursed under his breath.

"We should have got that lamp!" he hissed.

"I read the man's mind." Emma sighed, "He was telling the truth about the lamp, but I don't know any more than that."

"… So, what did he find?!" Shaw snapped, "He'll be out of that cave by now, thanks to the teleporter."

"Unless he was crushed."

"No… no, he's still alive." Shaw started to pace around the room. If there was no lamp, what did Lehnsherr find… and did he still have it?

"If I can gain access to Prince Charles's mind…" Emma began softly, "… We might be able to work this to our favour."

"You've never managed it before, has something happened since then?!"

Emma didn't flinch at the tone, "I will figure it out."

"Hmmm, see that you do."

…

"That… was disturbing." Logan muttered, "Does it always feel like that?"

Azazel shrugged, "You get used to it."

Privately, Erik had never fully gotten used to the sensation, but it was a useful escape method so he never complained about it.

"So…" He began, "… how did you even end up in that cave anyway?"

"Made a stupid mistake, trusted the wrong people." Logan lit up another cigar, "Usual story." He glanced over at the pair, before sighing wearily, "Look… I owe ya both some thanks for getting me out. I got some contacts if you need any help with anything. Get some wives waiting for ya or something."

Azazel shook his head, as Erik winced.

"Not really my thing." He admitted, as Logan shrugged.

"Husband, whatever." He then frowned, "I was in there a while, can men get married to each other now, right?"

"… Sort of." Erik's mind flashed to Charles sub-consciously.

He would have married him if it weren't for the fact that Charles was a Prince.

"That's a depressing look." Logan groaned, "Go on, what's the favour ya want."

"Forget it." Erik sighed, "Let's just get back to the city. Is there anyone waiting for you?"

"Nah."

There was a hint of melancholy in Logan's voice, but Erik knew that pushing wouldn't end well.

"You can head back with us then. Once we get back, we can- "

"- Hello there!"

All three of them flinched, turning to see a convoy of caravans heading towards them, a man with long, dark red hair leading it.

"You boys looking to go somewhere?"

"Depends." Erik frowned, "Are you offering?"

The man looked up at Azazel, an almost sad look flashing across his face, "Life is hard for mutants, I know dat. Wherever you boys wanna go, I'll take you."

"That's very kind of you." Erik thanked, "Can I get your name?"

"Call me Jean-Luc. Jean-Luc Le Beau."